Scott Burnett in court over Gympie Show incident

A Curra miner who punched a man he had never met at the Gympie Show has been fined and ordered to pay $1500 compensation.

Brock Purnell outside the Gympie Courthouse.

A Curra miner who attacked the new boyfriend of his old girlfriend in the car park of the annual Gympie Show rodeo.

Brock John Purnell pleaded guilty in Gympie Magistrates Court on Tuesday to public nuisance and was fined $750 and ordered to pay $1500 in compensation.

The court was told that a 53-year-old man was walking down Sideshow Alley at the Gympie Show with his girlfriend about 8.30pm on May 15, 2021, on the way back to his car.

The police prosecutor said that as the two walked towards the car, the man received a blow to the back of his head and in the neck area from Purnell, and fell to the ground.

The court heard the man tried to cover his face while being punched in the face several times.

Later, the man and his girlfriend drove to Gympie Hospital where he was treated for severe bruising, the court heard.

Magistrate Graham Hillan said he acknowledged the fact that community service would impact Purnell’s employment.